…as they hang on in closing stages

This was a game of two halves as the Dons played some great football in the opening forty five minutes, but ended up hanging on for the points at the end. Despite dominating the first half the Dons could only find the net once in the 15th minute and the goal was a joy to behold. Pawlett picked the ball up on the right, beat his marker and delivered to Aluko who showed excellent footwork to waltz past three defenders and place the ball past keeper Smith. St. Johnstone enjoyed more of the play after the interval, but the equaliser came in controversial circumstances when Langfield looked to have been barged by Deuchar before Craig rolled the ball into the empty net. The Dons winner was also shrouded in controversy as they benefited from a rather soft award and Miller made no mistake from the spot. In a frantic ending the Dons defended deep, but hung on for the points.

Following a minute’s silence in memory of Archie Baird and the War dead Aberdeen kicked off and put the Saints under pressure right from the start. In the opening minute Aluko swung in a cross that had the visiting defence at sixes and sevens then seconds later the Dons won the first corner of the match following good passing play. In the second minute Aluko collected a long ball on the left hand side of the box and fired the ball into the side netting as Aberdeen made an impressive start. As a gentle reminder Johansson hit a decent shot inches wide of Langfield’s goal with five minutes on the clock.

The match was held up for a couple of minutes when Gartland picked up a shoulder injury and had to be replaced. Aberdeen went close again in the 9th minute when a Foster cross was scrambled clear with Miller ready to pounce. The Dons then won a corner and as the ball came back to Mulgrew he found Miller in the middle, but the striker sent the effort high under pressure. Langfield was called into action when he saved well from a Saints free kick and a minute later the Dons took the lead with a wonderful goal.

Pawlett picked the ball up on the right, beat his marker and delivered to Aluko who showed excellent footwork to waltz past three defenders and place the ball past keeper Smith. The winger wouldn’t look out of place on Strictly Come Dancing this evening. A Mulgrew free kick in the 22nd minute was claimed by Smith and at the other end Samuel won a corner for Saints. Aberdeen worked their way back into the area again and a Paton shot was blocked for a corner. The set play came to nothing and at the other end MacKay screwed an effort wide in an open game.

In the 27th minute Pawlett picked the ball up in the middle of the park, made a 50 yard run and forced a fine save from Smith. Aluko collected the loose ball, but fired high over the bar. A minute later Considine found Paton on the left and his cross was blocked with Miller lurking. This contest was proving to be an open entertaining match and in the 32nd minute Considine slipped on the edge of the Saints box allowing Samuel to break. The defender tried to get back and picked up the first yellow card of the game as he brought Samuel down from behind. He could have little complaint.

Pawlett was looking impressive and was full of confidence as he cut inside and forced another save from Smith in the 34th minute. There were problems for Aberdeen in the 40th minute as Aluko went down injured, but he limped back on after some treatment. Four minutes later Langfield put the ball out for treatment for Samuel and Saints tried to take an unfair advantage with a quick throw in. The referee pulled back play, but the game had lost some of its impetus and the visitor’s were finishing the half strongly.

Darren Mackie replaced Sone Aluko at the interval as the Dons man failed to recover from the first half knock. Saints started well and headed wide of the target before Aberdeen powered forward and Darren Mackie produced some good play before hitting the upright. In the 51st minute Mackie ran on to a long ball over the top from Kerr, but his finish didn’t match the run. Substitute Kenny Deuchar reacted badly to a decision, but the referee sensibly settled for a word in his ear. Aberdeen then won a corner and Smith did well to tip an effort from Ifil over the bar.

Pawlett showed good pressing play as he won the ball in the middle of the park as the Dons broke, but the move ended with a weak shot from McDonald. St Johnstone went close in the 58th minute as Ifil was forced to clear a Deuchar header off the line after the striker had lofted the ball over the exposed Langfield. Pawlett was booked just after the hour mark for a late tackle on Davidson as the visitor’s continued to threaten. A quick free in the 67th minute was played to Mulgrew, but his shot went wide.

Tommy Wright replaced Pawlett in the 72nd minute as McGhee tried to add a bit more threat. It was the Saints who threatened however as Ifil was forced to clear off the line for the second time as Rutkiewicz tried to score from distance with Langfield out of goal. St. Johnstone then equalised in controversial circumstances when Langfield looked to be barged by Deuchar and the loose ball was rolled into the empty net by Craig. Langfield was outraged by the decision and was booked for his complaints. Aberdeen were awarded their own controversial decision when they won a very soft penalty in the 83rd minute.

Miller stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. Four minutes later Paton almost made it three with a wonderful shot that rattled the bar and bounced down before the keeper collected the ball. A St. Johnstone free kick in the 89th minute caused the Dons problems before the ball was scrambled clear. Seconds later the visitor’s won a corner and Aberdeen struggled to clear their lines as panic took over. In the last minute Ifil missed a clearance but Langfield managed to claim the ball as the game moved into three minutes of injury time. The Dons had to defend desperately in the closing minutes, but they managed to hang on for the three points.